CCD Signal processor

Abstract

Apparatus for forming one or more sonar beams in response to acoustic energy received by a transducer array. To minimize volume utilization, a plurality of CCD's are formed on an integrated circuit chip with the CCD's being of progressively smaller length. Half of the CCD array is folded over to match the other half so that each CCD has an opposing CCD with both CCD's propagating a signal toward a common output diode. By providing one integrated circuit chip for each desired beam with appropriately different clocking frequencies multiple beams may be formed, and with the provision of a variable clocking frequency, one or more beams may be steered. Transversal filter operations may also be performed by the apparatus.

We claim: 
     
       1. Signal processing apparatus comprising: (A) an integrated circuit chip having defined therein a plurality of CCD's each having an input means and an output means;   (B) means for providing chosen ones of said CCD input means with respective input signals;   (C) means for propagating, along the length of said CCD's, the respective said signals provided thereto;   (D) said plurality of CCD's being comprised of a first and second group;   (E) said CCD's of said first group being colinearly arranged with respective CCD's of said second group in a manner that signals in respective colinearly arranged CCD's propagate toward one another to said CCD output means;   (F) an output circuit;   (G) means for connecting said output means of said CCD's with said output circuit;   (H) said output circuit being responsive to the signal provided thereto by said output means to provide an output signal.   
     
     
       2. Apparatus according to claim 1 which includes: (A) a plurality of acoustic sensors each providing a respective output signal in response to received acoustic energy; and   (B) means for providing said sensor output signals to chosen ones of said CCD input means.   
     
     
       3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein: (A) said output circuit is fabricated as part of said integrated circuit chip.   
     
     
       4. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein: (A) the output means for one CCD of said first group is the same for a colinearly opposed CCD of said second group.   
     
     
       5. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein: (A) said plurality CCD's are of varying length.   
     
     
       6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein: (A) the CCD's of said first group are parallel to one another; and   (B) the CCD's of said second group are parallel to one another.   
     
     
       7. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein: (A) adjacent CCD's of each group differ in length by one unit of CCD delay.   
     
     
       8. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein: (A) each of said acoustic sensors is connected with a respective CCD input means.   
     
     
       9. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein: (A) the CCD's of said first group are parallel to one another;   (B) the CCD's of said second group are parallel to one another;   (C) said CCD's define an array having first, second, third and fourth sides;   (D) said means for propagating include a plurality of clock signal feed lines;   (E) said feed lines being wrapped around and adjacent to three of said sides.   
     
     
       10. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein: (A) the CCD's of said first group are parallel to one another;   (B) the CCD's of said second group are parallel to one another;   (C) said CCD's defining an array having first, second, third and fourth sides;   (D) said means for propagating including a first plurality of clock signal feed lines;   (E) said means for propagating including a second plurality of clock signal feed lines;   (F) said first plurality of feed lines extend along said first side and then along the adjacent second side and then down the middle of said array for a predetermined distance;   (G) said second plurality of feed lines extend along said third side and then along the adjacent fourth side and then up the middle of said array for a predetermined distance;   
     
     
       11. Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein: (A) said input means are positioned along said second and fourth sides of said array.